BRUSSELS—European Union foreign ministers discussed how to tighten counterterrorism links with authorities in the Middle East and North Africa on Monday as part of the bloc’s efforts to boost security in the wake of recent terror attacks.

Among the ideas floated were the placement of senior level security experts within EU delegations to liaise closely with professionals in the host country; greater intelligence sharing; accelerating plans to stem the flow of foreign fighters to and from Iraq and Syria; and building greater...